Tragedy shatters Summer Bay
Which original cast member of Home And Away has quit the series and is to written out for good? That is the question facing fans of the popular Seven Network series as a car accident in Summer Bay tragically kills one of the characters – but with four characters in the car, who will die?
Alyce rides into romance
Sale Of The Century co-host Alyce Platt has started a six-week stint in the Nine Network’s soap Family And Friends. “It feels very different being back in a drama. It’s like I’ve picked up where Sons And Daughters left off, although this is a different character,” she told TV Week. She plays the character of Stephanie Collins, a social worker with a deep secret who takes off to the country to deal with her mystery. It is there that she meets Damien Chandler (Simon Westaway) and tries to turn around his aggressive manner, leading to romance.
Away with the Pixies… again!
The Seven Network this week launches a new series of sketch comedy show Fast Forward, and Magda Szubanski will be on board to reprise her trademark characters Pixie-Anne Wheatley (pictured) and beautician Chenille. “I enjoy doing Pixie. It puts me in a good mood,” Szubanski told TV Week. “You set up the smile and, before you know it, you’re in a good mood. In some ways, I think Chenille may have a slightly longer life. Because Pixie is such a big character, she could really start to … you after a while!”
Six exit in series shake-up
Despite falling ratings, the Nine Network is sticking with Family And Friends. The network is planning a major revamp for the series, with six characters to be written out and negotiations under way to sign up some high-profile names. Planned to be leaving the show are Renato Bartolomei, Robert Forza, Anna-Maria Monticelli, Sean Myers, Simon Westaway and Justine Clarke. Clarke was only ever intended to have a brief stint in the series, but the departure of the others will essentially end the ongoing Rossi/Chandler feud storyline.
Briefly…
Former The Factory co-host Andrew Daddo may have been overlooked for a presenting role on Countdown Revolution, but is now set to host a new documentary series for ABC, Made By Design.
A former Australian model, Tayler Kane (pictured), has won a role in the new UK soap opera Families. The new $6 million series, to be produced by Grenada Television, will be filmed on location in both the UK and Australia. Kane will play the role of Andrew Stephens, the eldest son of Diane Stephens (Briony Behets). Families is to debut on UK network ITV later this month. The series has yet to be sold to an Australian network.
Commonwealth Games double gold medallist Jane Fleming hasn’t given up on her sporting career but has begun to make her mark into the media – as a reporter for the Nine Network’s Wide World Of Sports and co-host of the breakfast show on Canberra radio station FM104.7.
John Laws says…
”I’m delighted that Daryl Somers (pictured, as illustrated by Robert Fidgeon) and New Faces are back on Nine. There was a lot of talk late last year that the show was headed for chopping block. If that had happened, it would have been a crying shame. I very much like the program and everything that it stands for. It is a genuine search for fresh Australian entertainment and it’s one of the very few areas of television where talented unknowns can have a crack at shooting for the big break in their careers.”
Program Highlights (April 21-27):
Sunday: HSV7’s Sunday afternoon AFL covers Sydney Swans versus St Kilda and a highlights package of North Melbourne versus Geelong. The only Sunday night movie this week is Big Business (HSV7), while GTV9 presents the premiere of two-part mini-series The Great Escape II: The Untold Story and ATV10 debuts mini-series Heart Of The High Country. In the lead-up to ANZAC Day, ABC presents a one-hour special, The Boys Who Came Home, featuring recollections from Gallipoli veterans.
Tuesday: In GP (ABC), Dr Cathy Mitchell (Sarah Chadwick) looks after a young paraplegic with serious doubts about his sex life.
Wednesday – ANZAC Day: ABC is the only network to provide coverage of ANZAC Day proceedings, including 75th Anniversary ANZAC Day March through the streets of Melbourne and a live telecast of the Dawn Service from Gallopoli. In the afternoon, HSV7 presents a two-hour special, For Valor, and ATV10 repeats a three-hour special, Australians At War 1914-1918, narrated by Tim Elliot. At 4.45pm, ABC crosses back to Gallipoli for The International Service and the forum discussion on Couchman, at 10.15pm, focuses on the many young Australians making the pilgrimage to the shores of Gallipoli to pay homage to the men who died there 75 years earlier.
Thursday: Comedy series Fast Forward returns for a second season, including cast members Steve Vizard (pictured), Michael Veitch, Margaret Downey, Magda Szubanski, Ernie Dingo, Jane Turner and Peter Moon.
Source: TV Week (Victoria edition), incorporating TV Times and TV Guide.
21 April 1990. Southdown Press.
